Afghanistan v West Indies, 1st ODI, Lucknow – Preview, likely XIs, prediction

Buoyed by a 3-0 sweep in the ODIs, West Indies will now face Afghanistan for 3 T20Is. Less than a year remains before next year’s T20 World Cup in Australia, which adds extra importance to every series in the format to be played over the next year.

With a cohort of big hitters and wily, accurate bowlers, Afghanistan have always been better at this format than some of the top teams in the world. Their have won seven of their last eight decided series (or tournaments), though their only defeat came against the West Indies, back in 2017.

In fact, they have won 51 of their 75 decided T20Is. Their win-loss ratio of 2.125 is the best among all teams to have played 30 or more matches.

Given their recent downward spiral, it is difficult to believe that West Indies are still the defending world champions in the format. They have been whitewashed 0-3 in their last two T20I series earlier this year, by England and India – something they will want to put behind them.

However, in Kieron Pollard and Phil Simmons they seem to have found an impressive captain-coach combination. They have included their CPL stars – Lendl Simmons, Fabian Allen, Khary Pierre, Brandon King, Romario Shepherd, Hayden Walsh Jr – which is definitely a step forward.

Despite that, however, Afghanistan are probably slight favourites.

Head to head

The teams have met only 4 times: Afghanistan had won the first encounter, in the 2016 World T20 (that West Indies won), before West Indies swept them 3-0 at home in 2017.

Key players

Rashid Khan (Afghanistan): The most sought-after spinner in franchise cricket, the Afghan captain will have to put the humiliation in the ODIs behind him and rise to a fresh challenge. This is, after all, the format that has made him, and Afghanistan, so formidable as adversaries.

Kieron Pollard (West Indies): Pollard came to the party in the third ODI, opening up in a flurry of boundaries in a cameo that swung the match West Indies’ way. Be it enviable athleticism or enormous sixes or and canny seam bowling, Pollard still has it in him. This year’s IPL and CPL both bear testimony to that.

Likely XIs

Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Hazratullah Zazai, Asghar Afghan, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan (c), Naveen-ul-Haq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman.

West Indies: Evin Lewis, Brandon King, Shimron Hetmyer, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Kieron Pollard (c), Jason Holder, Keemo Paul, Fabian Allen, Romario Shepherd, Hayden Walsh Jr, Alzarri Joseph, Sheldon Cottrell.

Prediction

Afghanistan to win their first match of the tour.